Copy of Petition, December 19, 1842. /'^(^^^ '^^^^^l^ 



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^^O^ TO THE 

l^onourablc tl)c iHnijov, jlliicrmcn anl^ ^Issistant ^Ibcrmcu 

OF THE 

CITY OF NEW-YORK. 



The Trustees of the American Institute of the city of New- York and others, a Special Committee, being 
required to apply to you for aid to carry into effect a plan proposed ai a late meeting, promising, as we believe you 
will be satisfied, great public good, would briefly, but most respectfully, represent, — 

That in 1S21) the American Institute was ineorpoiatcd by the Legislature to encourage Agriculture, Commerce 
and the Arts, in this State and the United States. 

And while our ncigiibouring cities have extended a fostering care to their societies, which embrace only a part 
of the beneficial purposes comprehended in the charter of this Institute, — while Boston has given the free use of 
Fanueil and Quincy Halls; and Philadelphia, besides hrge sums of money, has given the fee simple of a full square 
of ground, — yet New-York, though outnumbering both in population, has done comparatively nothing to aid the 
Institute in its praiseworthy eflbrts. 

The triumphant success which has attended the etforts of those engaged in the laudable objects of the American 
Institute has made it, wc believe, one of the most popular and useful Institutions in our country. From its first 
organization to the late Anniversary Exhibition, which collected about 250,000 visiters, its popularity has been 
extending, and the sphere of its usefulness continually enlarging; observation and experience have, notwithstanding, 
been constantly suggesting new and practicable means for extending its usefulness. 

In the operations of the Institute, the peculiarity of the age in which we live is too manifest to be overlooked, not 
as once of war and conquest, but it is an age of discovery, invention, industry and improvement. Competition is 
actively and vigorously employed in the application of these means in perfecting and multiplying the necessaries, 
comforts and luxuries required in civilized society. 

The productions of those countries which do not advantageously employ these means of improvement, being imper- 
fect, become unsalable as well in the foreign as in the home markets. If knowledge is power, ignorance is weakness ; 
and therefore the termination of every contest between competitors, where knowledge is essential, must be in favour 
of the former ; neither numbers nor superior muscular strength will avail without knowledge. Labour-saving 
machines and steam defy numbers, and are too potent for human strength. How cogent the illustration wiiich 
England and Asia afford ! The price of labour is four times as great in England as in Hindostan ; still Englishmen 
manufacture from cotton grown in India, after being transported 10,000 miles, and carry it back, and then undersell 
that people in their own markets. 

The improvements of the present age are not only wonderfully great, but they are following each other in 
rapid succession. England stands foremost ; Scotland, France, Germany and the United States are also in the 
field, advancing with accelerating speed. Incredible amounts are expended in experiments, and in researches at 
home and abroad. Millions of minds are constantly on the rack to invent something to save labour and render its 
productions more perfect. Every accession of knowledge, wherever made, is recorded ; and the wisest among the 
competitors apply this knowledge with all practicable despatch to swell their productions. 

Most of the results, often the minute details of knowledge, from these efforts and expenditures are published in 
the periodicals of some of the countries which have been named ; frequently they are described with mathematical 
accuracy, and often accompanied with drawings so skilfully made that the artist of a distant country can at once go 
on with the process or complete the construction ol machinery, or whatever it may be, with as much perfection as if 
he were in the laboratory to witness the whole process, or in the shop by the side of the machinist and his workmen. 

The design of the American Institute is to establish a Reading Room, where the principal Periodicals of Art 
and Science from the countries named, shall be found accessible at all times to the public. Also, to obtain other 
recent, select publications, embracing the same objects. The great necessity of such an establishment, suggested by 
experience, has determined the Institute to attempt its accomplishment. Applications are continually made at the 
Repository for information which has been sought for in vain in the public and private libraries of our city, and 
which could readily be obtained from the proposed establishment. No doubt most of the publications referred to 
are in the country, but they are scattered, and are of no use, except to the owner, and perhaps to a few of his friends. 
Most important agricultural experiments made in England and on the Continent, and improvements in science and 
mechanism, at the sacrifice of time and labour and vast expenditures, though minutely recorded in foreign journals, 
are to this country a dead letter. They may be not'ced in a general manner in our newspapers, but not so detailed 
as to afi'ord information of any practical use. } 



The tardiness of the spread of the knowledge of improvements, from inattention or ignorance, has been almost 
incredible. It was forty years after it had been in operation in England, before Arkwright's spinning machine was 
to any considerable extent, in use in our country, though with it one man can accomplish more than fifty by the old 
process. The machine which our countryman, Whitney, invented, accomplishes in another way quite as much ; 
and though simple in construction, and though it has been in most successful operation in the United States for more 
than one third of a century, is now hardly introduced into Asia, the greatest cotton-growing country in tiie world. 
Even the Plough, that most essential instrument in procuring sustenance for the human race, is still in use in an 
imperfect state within a few miles of London, where approved models have been continually for sale for years, which 
would save in teams full thirty-three per cent. That country which obtains and avails itself of the earliest informa- 
tion of improvements in this age of intense and extended competition, will be foremost in the arts and in civilization. 
and be best supplied with the necessaries and comforts of life. 

In what conceivable way can so much useful knowledge be brought together and disseminated, as by the plan 
proposed? It is apparent, that such a Reading Room should be accessible to as great numbers as possible; and 
what city is better for this purpose than our own, where three hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants may be found 
together; and in addition to which, where the stranger visiters probably average daily, the year round, thirty 
thousand ; making a total of 380,000 ; where the inhabitants are continually communicating by means of rail-roads, 
canals, and river and ocean navigation, with every part of the Union ? 

The Repository of the Institute has been for years a place of daily exhibition of models and machines, of specimens 
of art, invention and discovery — the resort of ingenious men and the friends of improvement — with a library, mostly 
works of science and practical mechanics, numbering about 5000 volumes. Is not this an appropriate location lor 
the proposed establishment, where all will be under one roof? 

For the purpose of carrying fully into effect this plan, the aid of the city authority is invoked ; and with that view 
the undersigned are empowered, in the name of the Institute, respectfully to petition for permission from the City 
Corporation to use, for the above purpose, for ten years, the room and appurtenances now occupied by that Association ; 
and on the condition of such petition being granted, the American Institute will cause a floor to be constructed on 
the west end of the room, extending from gallery to gallery, so as to afford a space of about ICOO square feet ; and 
said Institute will also furnish the same with chairs, tables, &c., suitable for a Reading-Room ; and, at the same time, 
procure as early as practicable, the most important periodicals of the United Stales, and of England, Scotland, France 
and Germany ; and also the leading state papers of the United States, with other recent practical books and publications, 
embracing modern discoveries and improvements. And, as a further consideration for the proposed lease, the Mayor, 
Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen, and their clerks ; also, the fcmptroller and Street Commissioner of tlie city, siiall, 
during the continuance of the privilege, at all times enjoy, frelfrom expense, the use and benefits of said Reading- 
Room, as well as free admission to the Lectures and AddresseAind Public Exhibitions or Fairs of the Institute. 

The Reading-Room to be likewise open to non-residents visiting our city, free of expense at all times. Wisdom 
cannot fail to suggest to your Honours, that it would be policy at an extraordinary expense to establish such a Reading- 
Room in connection with the Library, and the specimens of Invention and Art already in the Repository; as the 
benefits, which we think numerous and palpable, would all tend to our city, where most of the valuable products of 
Agriculture and the Arts naturally centre; and thereby supply additional materials for an increasing trade and com- 
merce. But as it can be effected without any sacrifice to the city, or at the most a mere nominal one, we with confi- 
dence pray that such conditional privilege as is proposed, mav be extended to the American Institute at an early day, 
that the requisite arrangements may be entered into forthwith thereafter. 
All which is respectfully submitted. 

JAMES TALLMADGE, Presichnt. 



T. B. Wake 
George C 
Martin E 



LKEMAN, 1 

. De Kay, > 
1. Thompson, 1 



Committee. 



December 19, 1842. 



6 029 S90 C00 



ss3d0N0D do Adwyan 



